Heating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A heating apparatus includes a container, which has a main chamber for holding a can food, a flat baffle, which covers the main chamber of the container and has an opening for holding the can food in the main chamber, a heat source received in the container, and a tool detachably attached to the flat baffle for use to pierce the heat source and to further cause the heat source to produce a chemical reaction and to release heat for heating the can food held in the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heating apparatus and moreparticularly, to a handy heating apparatus, which releases heat to heata can food by means of a chemical reaction.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the modern busy society, people may order take-out food or carry abox lunch for lunch and eating the lunch in the office. Conveniencestores also selling packed foods. When eating a packed food in a coldday, the packed food must be heated before service. Most conveniencestores provide a microwave for heating packed food. However, many peoplemay not eat the heated packed food in the convenience store but carrythe heated packed food to the office or another place for service.However, the heated packed food becomes cold quickly in a cold day.

FIG. 8 shows a conventional heating apparatus for heating a packed food.According to this design, the heating apparatus comprises a peripheralshell A, a bottom shell B, and inner shell C, a pan D, a pack of waterE, and a pack of calcium oxide F. The pack of water E and the pack ofcalcium oxide F are put on the pan D, and then a food is put in theinner shell C, which is suspending in the peripheral shell A above thepack of water E and the pack of calcium oxide F. When wishing to heatthe food, insert a needle or like tool through a hole A1 in theperipheral shell A into the pack of water E, enabling water to flow outof the pack of water E to mix with the calcium oxide contained in thepack of calcium oxide F so as to further produce a chemical reaction andrelease heat for heating the food.

The aforesaid heating apparatus is not provided with a top cover. Duringheat, much heat energy escapes out of the apparatus, resulting in a lowheating efficiency. Further, the inner shell C is suitable for holding asolid food (rice, noodles, or the like), not suitable for holding aliquid food.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. It is therefore the main object of the present invention toprovide a heating apparatus, which utilizes a chemical reaction torelease heat for heating a can food for service. It is another object ofthe present invention to provide a heating apparatus, which is equippedwith a tool to pierce the contained heat source, causing the heat sourceto produce a chemical reaction and to release heat during the chemicalreaction. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention,the heating apparatus comprises a container adapted to hold a can food,and a heat source put in the container and adapted to produce heat bymeans of a chemical reaction for heating the can food being put in thecontainer, wherein the container comprises a main chamber adapted tohold the can food, a flat baffle covered on a top side thereof over themain chamber, the flat baffle having an opening adapted to hold a packedeatable thing in the main chamber and a through hole near the borderthereof, and a tool inserted through the through hole of the flat bafflefor use to pierce the heat source and to further cause the heat sourceto produce a chemical reaction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a heating apparatus according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the heating apparatus according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view in section of the heating apparatus according tothe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional side view of the present invention,drawing showing the pointed tip of the tool pierced the bag of water.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, showing achemical reaction produced in the container.

FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of an alternate form of the heatingapparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of another alternate form of the heatingapparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of a prior art design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1˜3, a heating apparatus in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention is shown comprised of a container 1,a heat source 2, and a tool 3.

The container 1 comprises a main chamber 11, a side chamber 111 incommunication with the main chamber 11 at one lateral side, a rim 113extending around the main chamber 11 and the side chamber 111, and aplurality of elongated protruding portions 112 spaced around theperiphery below the rim 113.

The container 1 has the top side thereof covered with a flat baffle 12.The flat baffle 12 has an opening 121 in communication with the mainchamber 11, and a through hole 122 in communication with the sidechamber 111.

The heat source 2 is comprised of a bag of water 21 and a bag of calciumoxide 22. The bag of water 21 is put in the side chamber 111. The bag ofcalcium oxide 22 is put in the main chamber 11.

The tool 3 is a spoon or any of a variety of narrow elongated kitchenutensil obliquely inserted through the through hole 122 and the sidechamber 111 into the main chamber 11, having the bottom end thereofterminating in a pointed tip 31.

During assembly process, the bag of calcium oxide 22 is put in thebottom of the main chamber 11, and then the bag of water 21 is put inthe side chamber 111, and then the flat baffle 12 is capped on the rim113 of the container 1, and then the tool 3 is obliquely insertedthrough the through hole 122 and the side chamber 111 into the mainchamber 11. Further, a top cover 4 is provided and covered on the topside of the container 1. The top cover 4 comprises a plurality insideribs 41 protruded from the horizontal inside top wall thereof, aplurality of engagement blocks 42 spaced around the vertical inside wallthereof near the bottom side, and a side through hole 43 cut through theperiphery at one side.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a can food 5 is inserted through the opening121 of the flat baffle 12 into the inside of the main chamber 11 of thecontainer 1 and supported on the bag of calcium oxide 22, and then thetop cover 4 is covered on the container 1 to force the engagement blocks42 into engagement with the rims 113 of the container 1. At this time,the inside ribs 41 of the top cover 4 are respectively pressed on thetop of the can food 5, thereby holding down the can food 5 firmly insidethe main chamber 11 of the container 1. When wishing to heat the canfood 5, use the tool 3 to pierce the bag of water 21, enabling water toflow out of the bag of water 21 into the main chamber 11 and to furthermix with the calcium oxide in the bag of calcium oxide 22, therebyproducing a chemical reaction, and heat is released from the chemicalreaction to heat the can food 5. After heating, the user can enjoyeating the hot food or drinking the hot beverage contained in the canfood 5. Because of the effect of the flat baffle 12, steam will not flowout of the container 1. Further, when eating or drinking the content inthe can food 5, the user can hold the container 1 with the hand withouttouching the hot can food 5. Therefore, the user can enjoy eating ordrinking the content of the can food 5 safely and comfortably. Further,the space inside the top cover 4 can be utilized to hold another food.Further, when eating or drinking the top content of the can food 5, theuser can hold the elongated protruding portions 112 of the container 1with the hand, reducing transfer of heat from the heat source 2 to thehand.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate form of the present invention. This embodimenteliminates the aforesaid flat baffle 12, and the top cover 4 is directlycovered on the container 1 to force the engagement blocks 42 intoengagement with the rim 113 of the container 1. Alternatively, thecontainer 1 can be matched with the flat baffle 12 without the top cover4 or the top cover 4 can be formed of a shrinkage film or sealing film.

FIG. 7 shows another alternate form of the present invention. Accordingto this embodiment, the top cover 4 is a flat plate member covered onthe top side of the container 1 to force the engagement blocks 42 intoengagement with the rim 113 of the container 1, and working as theaforesaid flat baffle 12.

As indicated above, the present invention provides a heating apparatusthat has the following features.

1. The container 1 has the main chamber 11 for holding the can food 5and the heat source 2, and the tool 3 is provided for piercing the bagof water 21 of the heat source 2 to cause the heat source 2 to produceda chemical reaction and to release heat during the chemical reaction forheating the can food 5.

2. The tool 3 can be made in the form of a spoon or any of a variety ofkitten utensil for picking up liquid food for eating, having a pointedtip 31 for piercing the heat source 2 to cause a chemical reaction.

3. The container 1 has elongated protruding portions 112 protruding fromthe periphery thereof for the holding of the hand to reduce transfer ofheat from the heat source 2 to the user's hand.

4. After each use, the waste heat source 2 is taken away from thecontainer 1, and a new heat source 2 is put in the container 1 so thatthe heating apparatus can be used repeatedly.

5. The top cover 4 is an option member. The user can select to use ornot to use the top cover 4. Further, the top cover 4 can be made havingthe side through hole 43 for the passing of the tool 3.

A prototype of heating apparatus has been constructed with the featuresof FIGS. 1˜7. The heating apparatus functions smoothly to provide all ofthe features discussed earlier.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described indetail for purposes of illustration, various modifications andenhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except asby the appended claims.

1. A heating apparatus comprising a container adapted to hold a canfood, and a heat source put in said container and adapted to produceheat by means of a chemical reaction for heating said can food being putin said container, wherein said container comprises a main chamberadapted to hold said can food, a flat baffle covered on a top sidethereof over said main chamber, said flat baffle having an openingadapted to hold said can food in said main chamber and a through holenear the border thereof, and a tool inserted through said through holeof said flat baffle for use to pierce said heat source and to furthercause said heat source to produce a chemical reaction.
 2. The heatingapparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a top cover forcovering said container and said flat baffle, said top cover comprisinga plurality of inside engagement blocks that are force into engagementwith the periphery of said container, a plurality of inside ribs adaptedto hold down said can food in the main chamber of said container, and aside through hole for the passing of said tool.
 3. The heating apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein said container comprises a side chamberin communication with an upper part of said main chamber; said heatsource comprises a first part received in a bottom side inside said mainchamber and a second part received inside said side chamber.
 4. Theheating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container has atop rim for the engagement of said engagement blocks of said top cover,and a plurality of peripheral elongated protruding portions.
 5. Theheating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat sourcecomprises a bag of water and a bag of calcium oxide.
 6. The heatingapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tool is an elongatedkitchen utensil, having a pointed tip at one end thereof.